Frame assemblies for use with scraper-chain conveyors

ABSTRACT

A frame assembly for a scraper-chain conveyor and having two parallel side walls attached together with transverse walls. The side walls have apertures therein for receiving bearings of a chain drum or wheels. One or more horizontal wall is welded between the side walls and a plurality of upright reinforcing ribs are in turn welded to the horizontal wall. The rib nearest the apertures carries a chain deflecting/guiding member. A plate, adjustable in relation to the side walls, is pivotably supported at the end of the assembly for attachment to a conveyor. The plate is inclined in relation to the horizontal wall and the ribs are located between the plate and the horizontal wall. The plate is supported on adjustable eccentrics or the like used to enable the position of the plate to be altered in accordance with the diameter of the drum or wheels accommodated by the assembly.

United States Patent Rafael [451 Sept. 17, 1974 FRAME ASSEMBLIES FOR USEWITH SCRAPER-CHAIN CONVEYORS Werner Rafael, Altlunen, GermanyGewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia, Westfalia, Germany Filed: Aug. 22,1972 Appl. No.: 282,716

Inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 1, l97l Germany 2143648 US. Cl.198/204, 198/137 Int. Cl 865g 15/60 Field of Search 198/168, 174, 204,208,

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 9/1927 Parsons 198/224 PrimaryExaminer-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney, Agent, or FirmThompson, Birch,Gauthier & Samuels 5 7] ABSTRACT A frame assembly for a scraper-chainconveyor and having two parallel side walls attached together withtransverse walls. The side walls have apertures therein for receivingbearings of a chain drum or wheels. One or more horizontal wall iswelded between the side walls and a plurality of upright reinforcingribs are in turn welded to the horizontal wall. The rib nearest theapertures carries a chain deflecting/guiding member.

A plate, adjustable in relation to the side walls, is pivotablysupported at the end of the assembly for attachment to a conveyor. Theplate is inclined in relation to the horizontal wall and the ribs arelocated between the plate and the horizontal wall. The plate issupported on adjustable eccentrics or the like used to enable theposition of the plate to be altered in accordance with the diameter ofthe drum or wheels accommodated by the assembly.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SHEU 1 OF 2 FIG.1

TENTH] SE? 1 7 I974 SHEEI 2 [1F 2 FIG. 2.

FRAME ASSEMBLIES FOR USE'WITI-I SCRAPER-CI-IAIN CONVEYORS BACKGROUND TOTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to a frame assembly for usewith scraper-chain assemblies employed in mineral mining.

Frame assemblies for conveyors are known in which a plate, which adjoinsthe conveyor floor, is mounted between two'parallel side walls. Thisplate is normally welded to the side walls and material transferredalong the conveyoris then conveyed over the plate and discharged over achain drum or wheels rotatably supported between the side walls. Fromtime to time chain drums or wheels of different diameter are employedand this necessitates that the entire frame assembly be replaced.

There is a need for a frame assembly which can be used with chain drumsor wheels of different sizes and a general object of the invention is toprovide an improved frame assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided aframe assembly for use with a scraper-chain conveyor; said assemblycomprising side walls adapted to rotatably mount a chain drum or chainwheels therebetween, and a plate mounted between the side walls andmovable in relation to said walls to various positions. The aforesaidplate constitutes a floor which forms a continuation of the conveyorfloor.

The invention also provides a frame assembly for use with scraper-chainconveyors; said assembly comprising a. two parallel side walls;

b. means for mounting chain-locating means between the side walls;

c. a plate disposed between the side walls to extend from the mountingmeans to an end region of the assembly;

d. means for mounting said plate to enable the plate to move in relationto said side walls; and

e. means for adjusting the position of said plate.

Preferably the plate is pivotably supported in the region of one end ofthe assembly and there is provided adjusting means for raising andlowering the end of the plate remotefrom said one end. The one end ofthe assembly would be mated up to the conveyor. By making the adjustingmeans accessible externally of the side walls the plate can be easilyand quickly adjusted to cope with chain drums or wheels of differentdiameter.

In one construction the adjusting means can be one or more eccentricmembers rotatably supported by one or both side walls.

The assembly may also have a further plate attached between the sidewalls to lie beneath the firstmentioned plate and a plurality of uprightribs attached tosaid further plate and extending towards saidfirstmentioned plate. The rib remote from the one end of the assemblymay accommodate one or more chain deflecting/guiding members ofconventional type.

Normally the further plate is substantially horizontal and thefirst-mentioned plate is inclined in relation thereto in all itspossible adjustment positions.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other featuresof the invention may become apparent from consideration of the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic partly-sectional side view of a frame assemblymade in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The frame assembly depicted in thedrawing would normally be attached to one end of a scraper-chainconveyor of the known type having side walls adjoined by a horizontalfloor and a scraper-chain assembly circulated along the floor. The endsection of the conveyor is shown schematically in dotted outline denoted50 in FIG. 2. The frame assembly is a self contained construction withtwo parallel side walls 10 rigidly interconnected by transverse wallswhich are preferably welded to the walls 10. The walls 10 have alignedcircular apertures 11 therein for receiving bearings for a chain drumand/or chain wheels rotatably mounted between the walls 10. As shown,for example, in FIG. 2 a drum 30 may be rotatably mounted between theside walls 10 to drivably engage a scraper-chain assembly 31 of theconveyor so that the chain assembly is entrained around the drum 30 inknown manner.

A transverse floor plate 12 is welded between the walls 10 and isdisposed in a substantially horizontal disposition. The plate 12, inturn, has welded thereto upright ribs 13,14,15 which act asreinforcements and these ribs are also welded to the walls 10. The ribs13,14,15 progressively increase in height towards the drum so that therib 15 is of greater height than the rib 13. Chain guiding/deflectingmembers 16 of conventional type are attached to the rib 15 so as toproject towards the drum.

At the end of the frame adjacent the conveyor a rod 17 forming a pivotjoint is disposed between the walls 10. A plate 18 is pivoted about thisjoint so that the end 18' of the plate 18 can swing in a vertical planebetween the walls 10. The plate 18 extends substantially over the entirewidth between the walls 10 and if desired sealing strips 20 can be usedto seal the gaps between the plate 18 and the walls 10.

Means is provided to effect an adjustment of the position of the plate18 and in this example this means takes the form of two eccentricmembers 19 rotatably sup ported by the walls 10 and engaging the plate18 so as to support the latter. The members 19 are mounted on spindles32 accessible externally of the side walls 10 and by rotating themembers spindles 32 and hence the 19 the end 18' of the plate 18 canthus be raised or lowered to conform to the particular size of drum orchain wheels used. The end 18 would usually be moved by something in theorder of 2.4 cm.

Instead of employing eccentric members 19 to adjust the position of theplate 18 it is possible to use a displaceable wedge-shaped component orpush-in bolts.

I claim:

l. A frame assembly for use with scraper chain conveyors; said assemblycomprising a. two parallel side walls;

b. means for spacing said side walls apart;

c. replaceable chain-locating means;

d. means for rotatably mounting the chain-locating means between saidside walls;

e. a plate disposed between the side walls to extend from thechain-locating means to an end region of the walls;

f. means for mounting said plate for pivotal move ment in relation tosaid side walls about an axis remote from the chain-locating means;

g. a scraper-chain assembly entrained around said chain-locating meansand extending on either side of said plate; and

h. means for pivoting and adjusting the position of the plate to guidesaid scraper-chain assembly onto the chain locating means.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for spacingcomprises a substantially horizontal plate which lies beneath thefirst-mentioned plate and further comprising a plurality of upright ribsattached to said horizontal plate and extending towards saidfirst-mentioned plate.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein one of the ribs hasattached thereto at leastione chain deflecting/guiding guiding member.

4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first-mentioned plateis inclined in relation to said substantially horizontal plate in allits possible adjustment positions.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting and adjustingmeans is accessible from the exterior of at least one of the side walls.

6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting and adjustingmeans is in the form of at least one eccentric member engaging theunderside of the plate and carried by a spindle supported for rotationbetween the side walls.

7. In a frame assembly for mine installations which assembly comprisestwo spaced side walls, means for mounting replaceable chain locatingmeans between the side walls and a floor plate disposed between the sidewalls, the floor plate having one end adjacent said mounting means andthe other end terminating remote from said mounting means and adjacentend portion of the side walls; the improvement comprising means forpivotably supporting said other end of the floor plate between the sidewalls and means for pivoting and adjusting the inclination of the floorplate whereby, in operation, to guide a scraper-chain assembly onto saidchain-locating means.

8. A mineral mining installation comprising a longwall conveyor composedof side walls adjoined by a floor and a scraper-chain assembly formoving along said floor, a frame assembly disposed at one end of theconveyor, said assembly having side walls disposed substantiallyco-planar with the side walls of the frame assembly and having thescraper-chain assembly entrained therearound; a floor plate disposedbetween the side walls of the frame assembly and having one end forminga continuation of the conveyor floor, means for supporting the floorplate for pivotal movement about said one end and means for pivotingsaid floor plate to raise or lower the other end of the plate remotefrom said one end.

1. A frame assembly for use with scraper chain conveyors; said assemblycomprising a. two parallel side walls; b. means for spacing said sidewalls apart; c. replaceable chain-locating means; d. means for rotatablymounting the chain-locating means between said side walls; e. a platedisposed between the side walls to extend from the chain-locating meansto an end region of the walls; f. means for mounting said plate forpivotal movement in relation to said side walls about an axis remotefrom the chain-locating means; g. a scraper-chain assembly entrainedaround said chain-locating means and extending on either side of saidplate; and h. means for pivoting and adjusting the position of the plateto guide said scraper-chain assembly onto the chain locating means. 2.An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for spacingcomprises a substantially horizontal plate which lies beneath thefirst-mentioned plate and further comprising a plurality of upright ribsattached to said horizontal plate and extending towards saidfirst-mentioned plate.
 3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein oneof the ribs has attached thereto at least one chain deflecting/guidingguiding member.
 4. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein saidfirst-mentioned plate is inclined in relation to said substantiallyhorizontal plate in all its possible adjustment positions.
 5. Anassembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting and adjusting meansis accessible from the exterior of at least one of the side walls.
 6. Anassembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting and adjusting meansis in the form of at least one eccentric member engaging the undersideof the plate and carried by a spindle supported for rotation between theside walls.
 7. In a frame assembly for mine installations which assemblycomprises two spaced side walls, means for mounting replaceable chainlocating means between the side walls and a floor plate disposed betweenthe side walls, the floor plate having one end adjacent said mountingmeans and the other end terminating remote from said mounting means andadjacent end portion of the side walls; the improvement comprising meansfor pivotably supporting said other end of the floor plate between theside walls and means for pivoting and adjusting the inclination of thefloor plate whereby, in operation, to guide a scraper-chain assemblyonto said chain-locating means.
 8. A mineral mining installationcomprising a longwall conveyor composed of side walls adjoined by afloor and a scraper-chain assembly for moving along said floor, a frameassembly disposed at one end of the conveyor, said assembly having sidewalls disposed substantially co-planar with the side walls of the frameassembly and having the scraper-chain assembly entrained therearound; afloor plate disposed between the side walls of the frame assembly andhaving one end forming a continuation of the conveyor floor, means forsupporting the floor plate for pivotal movement about said one end andmeans for pivoting said floor plate to raise or lower the other end ofthe plate remote from said one end.